Request
Dear University Secretary,
In the context of the Interpretation Agreement in relation to the Contract of Employment associated with the Appointment of Hourly Paid Lecturing Staff, I here address to the university questions under the ACAS Code of Practice,
At paragraph 2.3, the Interpretation Agreement states as follows:
“It is understood that the HPL contract is distinct from a fractional academic contract, but where it is established that an HPL has been employed to undertake work more in keeping with a fractional contract, this will be drawn to the University’s attention, and a review will be undertaken with a view to amending the contract.”
Questions addressed to London Metropolitan University:
- Who is responsible for deciding when the circumstances envisioned in clause 2.3 are satisfied, so that a review is therefore triggered?
- Who is responsible for undertaking such reviews?
- What are the criteria for creating a new permanent lecturing position for an existing HPL?
- Who ultimately decides which positions shall be permanent and which shall be HPL?
- What are the criteria for deciding this, and how does the university ensure that these criteria are applied consistently?
Please provide the following data, which are relevant to the context of these questions:
a. Anonymised details of all reviews in accordance with paragraph 2.3 of the Interpretation Agreement carried out in the last 3 years, and the outcome of each. In each case, please specify the sex and duration (in years) of HPL engagement of the lecturer in question.
b. The proportion of current HPLs who are men and women expressed as:
- the total numbers of each (headcount)
- the totals of employed hours of each.
c. The mean term of tenure of women on HPL contract compared with men.
d. Of the HPLs who have progressed to permanent contracts in the last 3 academic years, the total numbers and proportion of those who are men and women.
Response
Dear Prof...,
I write further to your request for information dated 8 May 2019. This request has been handled by the University in accordance with its duties and obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("FOIA").
You requested details of:
- Who is responsible for deciding when the circumstances envisioned in clause 2.3 are satisfied, so that a review is therefore triggered?
- Who is responsible for undertaking such reviews?
- What are the criteria for creating a new permanent lecturing position for an existing HPL?
- Who ultimately decides which positions shall be permanent and which shall be HPL?
- What are the criteria for deciding this, and how does the university ensure that these criteria are applied consistently?
- Anonymised details of all reviews in accordance with paragraph 2.3 of the Interpretation Agreement carried out in the last 3 years, and the outcome of each. In each case, please specify the sex and duration (in years) of HPL engagement of the lecturer in question.
Please provide the following data, which are relevant to the context of these questions:
a. Anonymised details of all reviews in accordance with paragraph 2.3 of the Interpretation Agreement carried out in the last 3 years, and the outcome of each. In each case, please specify the sex and duration (in years) of HPL engagement of the lecturer in question.
b. The proportion of current HPLs who are men and women expressed as:
- the total numbers of each (headcount)
- the totals of employed hours of each.
c. The mean term of tenure of women on HPL contract compared with men.
d. Of the HPLs who have progressed to permanent contracts in the last 3 academic years, the total numbers and proportion of those who are men and women
The University's response to your request is FOIA response ref.33/1430 .
If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request, you may request an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter by writing to:
Chris Ince
University Secretary
London Metropolitan University
166-220 Holloway Road
London
N7 8DB
Email: c.ince@londonmet.ac.uk
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a right of appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745
Website: www.ico.gov.uk
There is no charge for making an appeal.
Kind regards,
Tracy Brathwaite
Information Compliance Officer
University Secretary's Office
London Metropolitan University
166-220 Holloway Road
London N7 8DB
Switchboard: 020 7423 0000